What is blood pressure?

           Blood pressure is the force within the arteries when the heart beats and contracts (systolic pressure). It is also felt when the heart is at rest or in a relaxed state (diastolic pressure). It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The systolic pressure (higher number) is always stated first and the diastolic pressure, second. For example: 126/82 (126 over 82); stolic = 126, diastolic = 82. Blood pressure can change from minute to minute, with changes in posture, temperature, exercise, mood swings and even during sleep. However, it should normally be less than 12/80 mmHg.

What is hypertension?

           High blood pressure or hypertension is defined in an adult as pressure greater than or equal to140 mmHg systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mmHg diastolic pressure.

Why is it so important?

           High blood pressure is directly related to increased risk of death and illness from many heart and vascular diseases such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure etc. It’s the #1 modifiable risk factor for stroke. It is estimated that 20-25% of adults have hypertension and nearly 1/3 of them are not aware of their condition.

Symptoms

           Hypertension has no apparent symptoms. That is why it is often called the ‘silent killer’. The only way to know whether you have it or not is to have your blood pressure checked. For most people symptoms often mistaken for hypertension are non-specific and usually not related to hypertension. These symptoms include headache, dizziness and difficulty in sleeping and may actually be the result of many other causes like stress, lack of exercise, process of aging or various other diseases.

Blood pressure measurement

           Blood pressure should be checked in a sitting or lying position when you have rested for at least 10-15 minutes. In addition, you should have had adequate sleep, not smoke and not drink alcohol or caffeine before undergoing blood pressure measurement.

Causes

         More than 90% of hypertensive patients have no certain cause (primary hypertension). Less than 10% may have secondary hypertension as a result from certain diseases such as tumor of the adrenal gland, blockage of the artery to the kidney or toxic goiter.

         There are many risk factors contributed to hypertension: 		 
 

1.
Aging 		 
 

2.

Male gender 		 
 

3.

Overweight or obesity 		 
 

4.

Lack of exercise 		 
 

5.

High salt intake 		 
 

6.

Certain medications like birth-control pills, nasal decongestants, steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) etc		  
 
Treatment

           In the case of secondary hypertension, treating the causes may help cure hypertension but ordinarily the usual result is just to keep it under control. Most hypertensive patients have to have lifelong treatments – same as other chronic disease patients.

           There are 2 major ways to treat hypertension and they are usually used in tandem.

  
 

1.
Lifestyle changes:
Lose weight, regular physical activity, stop smoking, decrease salt intake, avoid excessive alcohol and manage stress.

 
 

2.

Blood pressure-lowering drugs:
There are several groups of drugs that help control blood pressure e.g. diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBS). Sometimes, hypertensive patients may get several types of medication to better control their blood pressure. 		 
 
Goal

           The goal of treating hypertension is to prevent or reduce complications which present themselves as major health problems, affecting millions around the globe. The desirable blood pressure in general hypertensive patients is less than 140/90 mmHg and in diabetic and chronic kidney disease patient it is less than 130/80 mmHg.

Conclusion

           High blood pressure or hypertension is a lifelong disease. It can usually be controlled but not cured. Its effects can be prevented or reduced if it is treated early and can be kept under sustained control. It is a ‘silent killer’, so you’ll never truly know until you have your blood pressure checked!